Speed Limit Change For SH1, By Woodend, Receives Mixed Response

Thursday, 6 February 2025, 10:01 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

A proposal to restore a speed limit on State Highway 1, south of Woodend, back to 100kph has received a mixed response.

The Government is consulting on several speed limits after introducing new rules to reverse blanket speed limit reductions.

The speed limit on the 3.17km stretch of SH1 between Cam River, near Kaiapoi, and Woodend was lowered to 80kph in December 2020, with safety concerns cited at the time.

Waimakariri Deputy Mayor Neville Atkinson and councillor Philip Redmond, the council’s roading portfolio holder, questioned the timing of the speed review, with work about to get under way on the Woodend Bypass.

‘‘There’s an argument either way whether the speed limit should be 80kph or 100kph,’’ Cr Atkinson said.

‘‘But it’s not a biggie and people are familiar with the speed limit, so why not wait until they build the new motorway.’’

Cr Redmond said he was generally opposed to blank speed limit restrictions, but felt 80kph was ‘‘reasonable’’ for this stretch of road.

‘‘The safety aspect should be paramount. There is no alternative cycle route between Kaiapoi and Woodend, given the withdrawal of funding and we are not confident it will be included with the bypass.

‘‘And there are a number of properties on side roads where there are issues accessing SH1.’’

Woodend Community Association chairperson Mark Paterson said he had mixed feelings about the proposed speed limit change.

Given the volume of traffic, cars rarely travelled at the speed limit.

But he would be concerned if the speed limit suddenly changed from 100kph to 50kph at Woodend.
‘‘When cars are slowing down from 80kph to 50kph, rather than 100kph, it is definitely a bit safer.’’

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey encouraged people to have their say.

He said the stretch of SH1 between Waikuku and Kaiapoi has been ‘‘a mess of different speed limits for some time now’’.

‘‘Currently there are sections limited to 60kph, 70kph, 80kph and 100kph, and that’s not including the 50kph limit through the Woodend township.’’

Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the rising of speed limits would help drive economic growth and improved productivity.

He said National had campaigned on reversing the previous Government’s blanket speed reductions.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency introduced 80kph speed limits between Woodend and Cam River, and between the Pegasus Roundabout and Waikuku and SH1 in December 2020.

An agency spokesperson said when speed reductions were introduced, staff reviewed the travel times over the 10km route on SH1 between Waikuku and Lineside Road, further south, and estimated it would make a difference of around one minute.

The spokesperson noted ‘‘the operational speed’’ on a road could be lower than the speed limit due geography, narrowness and traffic volumes.

NZTA data shows there were 82 crashes on SH1 between Cam River and Woodend in the period from December 2010 to December 2020, including 10 serious crashes, resulting in 15 serious injuries and two deaths.

Since the 80kph speed limit was introduced, there have been 35 crashes, including four serious crashes and resulting in five serious injuries, but no deaths.

Analysis completed by NZTA estimates the cost to the economy of a road death to be on average $12.5m.

The variable speed limit of 60kph at the Pine Acres intersection, where the bulk of crashes have occurred, will remain in place.

Consultation is open until March 13, with speed limit changes to be implemented by July 1.

Streets outside schools in urban areas are required to have 30kph variable speed signs by July 1, 2026, with 60kph variable speed signs outside rural schools.

Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said the council had yet to discuss the Government’s proposed changes.

He said the council had not supported the blanket rule for lowering speed limits.

‘‘Now that there is greater clarity on the issue, we can better understand the necessary steps we need to take when we revisit this in due course.’’

Hurunui District Council chief executive Hamish Dobbie said his council recently completed a speed limit review and made several changes based on community engagement.

There were no changes to speed limits required from the Government’s latest rule change.

‘‘Of all the speed limits that were changed, one meets the criteria for a reversal, however, that same road is captured by the new rules around school zones.’’

Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said his district’s speed management plan was approved by NZTA last year.

He is not anticipating many changes from the rule change, other than variable speeds around schools.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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